When compared to 'Sunset Boulevard,' (orig. film: 1950; West End premiere: 1993), which follows the same classic film-to-stage pedigree as 'Singin' In the Rain' (orig. film: 1952; West End premiere: 1983) and tackles the same dilemma of making the transition from silent films to talkies in the 1920s--albeit of psychological melodrama in genre compared to the latter's rollicking parody--'Sunset Boulevard' had big stars of stage and screen who headlined West End and Broadway, i.e. Patti LuPone, Glenn Close, and Elaine Paige who played the faded silent movie star Norma Desmond.
Whereas 'Singin' In the Rain' did not delve into such stunt casting from the onset--unless you consider Tommy Steele, who originated the role of Don Lockwood in the West End, as big as Elvis Presley or Gene Kelly, the silver screen's original Lockwood.

Performing arts education advocates Sixteen Bars are bringing their highly successful series of Open mics titled SHOW OFF: BROADWAY OPEN MIC, where any musical theater enthusiast can turn up and perform a song on stage, to DITO: Bahay ng Sining (J. Molina St., Marikina City with tel. no. 63917-511-4556) tonight, July 25, from 7 to 11 p.m.

Performing arts education advocates Sixteen Bars are bringing their highly successful series of Open mics titled SHOW OFF: BROADWAY OPEN MIC, where any musical theater enthusiast can turn up and perform a song on stage, to DITO: Bahay ng Sining (J. Molina St., Marikina City with tel. no. 63917-511-4556) on Saturday, July 25, from 7 to 11 p.m.

(It's not summer anymore in the Philippines!) There are only two seasons in the Philippines: the dry season and the wet season, which starts in June and ends in August (third quarter); nevertheless, the local theater scene remains bustling with noteworthy theatrical productions during these 'bring your umbrella' months.

Jon Viktor Corpuz, who currently plays the role of Prince Chulalongkorn in Lincoln Center Theater's Broadway revival of THE KING AND I, is set to make his 54 Below solo debut, titled 'Confessions of a Drama King,' on Monday, June 15, at 7 p.m. Doors open shortly after 5 p.m.

We're counting down the days to the new Asian Tour of the hit London's West End and Broadway musical SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER (SNF), which kicks off in Manila in July, followed by performances in Kuala Lumpur in September and in Singapore, September and October.

Concertus Manila, the Philippines-based promoter of the international touring production of Broadway and London West End's hit musical SINGIN' IN THE RAIN, based on the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film by special arrangement with Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures Inc., is calling for vintage photo entries to its Facebook-based contest titled "Throwback To The Classics: Photo Contest*, running now until Friday, May 15.

Tony winner Brian Stokes Mitchell joins more than 100 children at Young At Arts (YAA), a community-based performing arts program that gives out scholarships to deserving young students, to celebrate YAA's 10th anniversary via its annual benefit titled 'Broadway to Bronxville' today, April 20, at Christ Church (17 Sagamore Road, Bronxville, N.Y.) at 6:30 p.m.

Direct from London's West End and its UK and Ireland Tour, SINGIN' IN THE RAIN, produced by Stage Entertainment and Chichester Festival Theatre, in cooperation with David Atkins Enterprises, Michael Cassel Group, Concertus Manila, Dainty Group, and Lunchbox Theatrical Productions, opens box office to the public via TicketWorld (Call 632-8919999 or visit ticketworld.com.ph).

9 Works Theatrical's production of one of Broadway's all-time biggest musical comedy hits, 'La Cage aux Folles,' which features book by Harvey Fierstein ('Kinky Boots,' 'Newsies') and music and lyrics by Jerry Herman ('Hello, Dolly!' 'Mame'), opened Saturday, February 28, and will run through Sunday, March 29, at Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza in Makati City.

Disney Channel Asia released Saturday, March 7, its latest music video of the iconic "Cinderella" song, "A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes," performed by London's West End actress Rachelle Ann Go ("Miss Saigon," Disney's "The Little Mermaid"). A new live-action feature of CINDERELLA, inspired by the 1950 Disney animated film, begins screening in the United States on Friday, March 13, and in the Philippines on Thursday, March 12, released through Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture.

Polytechnic University of the Philippines' (PUP) Sining-Lahi Polyrepertory presents a Filipino adaptation of Euripides' Greek tragedy MEDEA, translated and adapted by Alvin Veneracion, at PUP Theatre in Santa Mesa, Manila from Monday, March 2, to Wednesday, March 4.

The Fringe Arts Festival, the world's largest multi-arts festival, which took root in Edinburgh, Scotland seven decades ago and remains robust till this day--hosting 49,497 performances, 3,193 shows in 299 venues in its latest annual edition in Edinburgh--is finally setting foot in Manila, Philippines from today, February 12 through Sunday, March 1.

Rob Marshall ('Chicago,' 'Pirates of the Caribbean') helms the long overdue film adaptation of the 1987 Tony Award-winning musical INTO THE WOODS, featuring music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim ('Sweeney Todd,' 'Assassins') and book--now a moderately revised screenplay--by James Lapine ('Passion,' Falsettos').

Manila, Philippines--The first-ever international touring production of the Broadway hit musical Disney's 'Beauty and the Beast,' based on the 1991 Oscar-winning full-length animated feature film, and now--after 20 years--has reunited its original 1994 Broadway collaborators: director Robert Jess Roth, choreographer Matt West, scenic designer Stan Meyer, costume designer Ann Hould-Ward, lighting designer Natasha Katz, bookwriter Linda Woolverton, composer Alan Menken, and lyricists Tim Rice (and the late Howard Ashman), is extending its Asian kickoff for another week from Sunday, February 1, to Sunday, February 8, at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP). The show was originally announced to close Sunday, January 25.

The first-ever international touring production of the Broadway hit musical Disney's 'Beauty and the Beast,' based on the 1991 Oscar-winning full-length animated feature film, and now--after 20 years--has reunited its original 1994 Broadway collaborators: director Robert Jess Roth, choreographer Matt West, scenic designer Stan Meyer, costume designer Ann Hould-Ward, lighting designer Natasha Katz, bookwriter Linda Woolverton, composer Alan Menken, and lyricists Tim Rice (and the late Howard Ashman), is extending its run at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) until Sunday, February 1. (The show was originally announced to close Sunday, January 25.)